Every day, thousands of people go about their lives without giving much thought to the origins of the food and material products which they consume or use. Many folks, especially with the benefit of technology and the media, are becoming increasingly aware that a certain amount of cruelty is involved in the production of their purchases.

Fashion, research, food and entertainment industries that utilize animals are not kind to these beings. In fact, investigations have repeatedly revealed an incredible and unbelievable amount of suffering involved on the part of innocent beings who don’t happen to be members of our species, yet are just as capable of feeling pain, fear and misery. The documentary film, Earthlings, bears this out and should be viewed by every human being on this planet. Watch it for free at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5403685606111090415#

Since I began dedicating my time to helping improve and save the lives of sentient beings, I have come across many hardworking, devoted and successful organizations that have made a difference to thousands (and hopefully millions) of animals worldwide.

For those who wish to learn about animal exploitation and how they can help alleviate the suffering, just ‘google’ one or all of the following organizations: The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), PETA, In Defense of Animals, the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Born Free USA, Mercy for Animals, Action for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, International Anti-Fur Coalition. There are countless more who work hard to end animal cruelty. Each one of us can do something to help, no matter where we are in our evolution. No gesture is too small and every effort counts.

According to Action for Animals: “Every year worldwide over 50 billion land animals and over one trillion fish and other marine animals are exploited and killed for food. Millions more suffer and die for their fur and skin, for entertainment, or as tools in research laboratories.”

The amount of exploitation and suffering that is forced upon these animals is staggering and hard to even imagine. Faced with such an overwhelming amount of misery and death, many people simply turn their backs, unable or unwilling to acknowledge what is happening to animals. That is why we must keep bringing this harsh reality to the forefront of people’s minds. We can prevent the vast majority of suffering, exploitation, and murder simply by changes in diet and lifestyle. Ultimately, we benefit ourselves as well by improving our health and feeling good about our cruelty-free choices.

Not long ago, I had viewed a video of an undercover investigation conducted on an overseas pig farm. Although this did not take place in the U.S., the conditions at pig farms on our soil aren’t any different. Animals are treated like commodities and worse. They are tortured, brutalized and murdered. Managers at these facilities are aware of their employees’ activities but turn a blind eye. The clip can be viewed at http://www.mfablog.org/2012/02/spanish-pig-farm-brutality-exposed.html.

We permit the exploitation and violation of animals’ rights to a peaceful existence by remaining silent and turning away. We muffle our ears and close our eyes to the reality of their suffering and agony, because we find the truth too difficult to hear, read or view. But our silence and denial do not lessen the anguish, the agony, and the screams of those victims who are tortured, skinned alive, hacked to death piece by piece, burned, experimented upon without anesthesia, or harmed in so many other unimaginable ways.

We have the power to end cruelty by the purchasing decisions we make, our dietary choices, and by letting companies and legislators know that we won’t tolerate the torture and exploitation of animals and that we expect perpetrators to be justly punished. Take it a step further and contact the media; let mainstream magazines and tv stations know that you want to see more exposes of industries responsible for harming innocent animals.

Take some action, but don’t turn your back, resolving that you cannot do anything. Every effort counts and a suffering being is depending upon you and me to help them. They are hungry, thirsty, fearful, cold, hot, dirty, confined, and in pain. They are denied basic comforts that any creature has a right to experience. In the end, after a life of misery, they are even denied a life. We dominate them and subject them to horrific abuse simply because they do not look like us. That’s a poor reason to justify their mistreatment.